How can I scroll back in GDB's command window in the TUI mode?

GdbScrollKey BindingsTui

Gdb Problem Overview


Suppose that

(gdb) print *this

resulted in 20 lines of output. Yes, there would be Type <return> to continue, or q <return> to quit, but I'd like to scroll back to the top after I got to the bottom of the output.

I don't think http://sourceware.org/gdb/onlinedocs/gdb/TUI-Keys.html answers my question. It states

> <PgUp>
> Scroll the active window one page up.

but when the focus is on the command window, PgUp rewinds the command history, instead of scrolling back in the command window. Is it only me who suffers from this behavior?

I'm using PuTTY in order to SSH to Red Hat Linux (if this makes any difference).

Gdb Solutions


Solution 1 - Gdb

I found an answer here: http://beej.us/guide/bggdb/

> Note that when the SRC window has focus, the arrow keys will move the source code, but when the CMD window has focus, the arrow keys will select the previous and next commands in the command history. (For the record, the commands to move the SRC window single lines and single pages are +, -, <, and >.)

There's also an example session illustrating this:

(gdb) info win
        SRC     (36 lines)  <has focus>
        CMD     (18 lines)
(gdb) fs next
Focus set to CMD window.
(gdb) info win
        SRC     (36 lines)
        CMD     (18 lines)  <has focus>
(gdb) fs SRC
Focus set to SRC window.
(gdb)

Solution 2 - Gdb

One way to see the GDB output history in TUI mode is to enable logging:

set trace-commands on
set logging on

and then tail the log in another shell:

cd where/gdb/is/running
tail -f gdb.txt

This has the advantage of separating scrolling from command interaction, so you can type commands while viewing some past section of the GDB output.

None of the scrolling keys work in my CMD window, so GDB effectively consumes and destroys its own output. Switching out of TUI mode allows me to scroll up, but the output that occurred while in TUI mode is not there--the non-TUI window only shows new output generated after switching out of TUI mode. So far log and tail is the only solution I can find.


Edit: if you activate GDB logging (via set logging on) before switching to TUI mode, you may find that the logging stops upon entering TUI (this is a bug in GDB). You can toggle it back on:

set logging off
set logging on

Solution 3 - Gdb

You can try Ctrl + P for the previous command and Ctrl + N for the next command (when you have used Ctrl + P to go back to the previous commands :)

Solution 4 - Gdb

Use C-x o (usually Ctrl + X, O). Using this you can change your active window and then use normal up down arrow to see previous commands.

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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionnodakaiView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - GdbLupusView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - GdbByron HawkinsView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - GdbRohan GhigeView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - GdbEmptyDataView Answer on Stackoverflow